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Comment by M's mom on September 3, 2012 at 11:51am

We're heading out to Newport on Wednesday, because our son graduates with OCS Class 16-12 on Friday!!!  Can't wait to see him in his dress whites!   This has been a long, emotional process for us all.   Thanks to everyone here for your support and answering all of my questions when he was first accepted into OCS.  It is comforting hearing from all those who have "been there, and done that" because the Navy doesn't give the families a whole lot of info about OCS beforehand.  For instance, somebody in our son's class was sent COOKIES about week three, and had to do 800 pushups!   I knew from reading posts here on N4M, that goodies are prohibited until they are Candios at week nine.  The Navy's OCS website gives the mailing address for OCS, but doesn't say anthing about what is prohibited to send, so we might have made the same mistake, if I had not read that info here.   So thanks to all for sharing the knowledge!

Comment by Anna on August 26, 2012 at 9:21pm

sorry jaimelss I misread your message.  You were speaking about a class starting Sept 30 and I was thinking about the class ending at the end of September!!!

Dawn has all the right info for you.  Look for those facebook groups and then see about getting a group started for you/your loved one's class.  And one other group to check out is called Officer Training Command Newport group page.  They post updates of the classes as they progress, and post pictures as well.  It's good to look back at what other classes went through to give you an idea of what to expect.  And yes, ask questions if you need to!!!!1

Comment by Dawn on August 26, 2012 at 9:10pm

I see a page for US NAVY OCS Class 03-13 which starts sept 9 so your LO class would be 04-13 but I don't see a page yet for them. Currently active classes are same start in title for 16-12, 17-12, 01-13, 02-13. Join those so u can see how things progress and feel free to ask questions

Comment by Dawn on August 26, 2012 at 8:59pm

Has your LO class started a Face book page? If not they should for family. join some of the ones for earlier classes also. My son was in class 14-12

Comment by Anna on August 26, 2012 at 8:59pm

jaimelss,

If you are asking about the 28th of September graduation that is when (God willing) my daughter will be graduating.  We will be there.

Comment by NOAM on August 22, 2012 at 10:34pm

Glad to pay the details forward.  I had to learn details from the FB class before ours, as our LO was short on details too! :-)

If you're coming up to the Candio stage, they do like to receive some homemade items (favorite cookies, candy, etc); some other things they like to receive are coffee, fresh toothbrush, their brand toothpaste, gum, mints, things in individual packages like you pack in kid's lunchboxes, and we also included miniature pinball, deck of cards, sudoku, etc. Our LO loves the Texas Cinnamon Rolls that are individually wrapped, so we added those too.  We also sent little airplanes, little wind-up toys -- anything goofy that reminds them of home. Those boxes hold quite a bit of stuff, so have fun with them.

One thing a FB class two ahead of ours did that was awesome (and you didn't hear it from me), was to take random pictures of new OCS candidates and posted them.  They don't like it if they see you taking pics, so remember discretion is the better part of Mom valor!  ;-)

Comment by NOAM on August 22, 2012 at 9:37pm

Not sure if this came up before, but if you're planning to travel to the graduation, two days before, they can leave the base for a few hours to have dinner with you.  The day before weather permitting you can watch them go through their paces at 5:30 am and at breakfast.  Our LO was in 2-12 and it was cold and rainy so the cancelled that for his class.  Then early that afternoon there is Pass in Review;  you can wear whatever you want to this.  They invite you up to take pictures while they have them stand at attention and parade rest.  (My LO specifically asked that I not get in his direct line of sight so he wouldn't break his concentration.)  They will do drills and march, after which they are free to leave base.  That same evening, there is a Hi Mom's event.  It's a reception for the families where the class leadership will be introduced, you can meet and speak with them, awards are presented, and usually has a slide show of your LO thru OCS. Most ladies wore cocktail dresses or semi-formal.    Then Graduation the next day, again can wear anything, but most seemed to be in business attire or business casual. 

Another note:  in the Navy, if the time is 9am, you need to be there 15 to 30 minutes early.  The 9am is the moment the event will start, and you'll miss things like seeing them walk into the area in formation, the Navy band playing, and so on.  We were told if you're on time, you're late.  And it did play out that way.

If this is redundant, my apologies. 

Best wishes to all your LOs.

Comment by Dawn on August 22, 2012 at 8:09pm

SNA frequently don't get their letters until week before or week of graduation. My son got his Thursday the week of graduation so then stayed in Newport until Tuesday when his orders to Pensacola came. All of the SNAs in his class had the same orders for reporting to Pensacola. Once they get to Pensacola NAMI screens them some more and gives them another clearance. It is quite the process.

Comment by Anna on August 22, 2012 at 8:01pm

Oh that's right - - Jenn is supposed to go there also if she gets cleared and gets her letter.

Comment by Dawn on August 22, 2012 at 7:59pm

Anna
My son is in Pensacola. He is SNA

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